Wasted 5 years of my life with LPNschool, now failed NCLEX for the 2nd time. I'M DONE

Nursing Students NCLEX

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I started out at a University majoring in pre-nursing starting the fall year('06) after high school. Thought everything was fine and dandy, thought I had it all figured out, doing great in my pre-req too! I was an average B student I'd say. I thought nursing was for me...I felt extremely compassionate about it, and I had experience working as a CNA, so I truely knew it was for me. Well anyways, after a year and a half at the University, I decided to go for the LPN program at a nearby community college because I knew it was hard to get into the university's nursing program(they only allowed 25 people in)... So i thought it would be great to go to the community college because I'd get experience as a LPN before going into the RN program, plus it would be faster to get an education. BUT Boyyy my journey since then could be anything BUT faster. . . more like total hell and at a stand-still.

I started out at the community college in the lpn program the spring of 2008. I had trouble already when I passed my basic nursing with only a C. Next semester rolled around and that was even more difficult. I dropped my nursing class (Med-Surg1) because i was struggling with it, I finished pharm and clinicals though. So then I took Med-Surg 1 over right away, and passed it. Then I took the Med-Surg2 class... was almost done with it coming May. That was also around the time graduation was approaching. So basically, I had all my graduation cap and gown, also sent out grad invites...just so i could find out I failed the class because of my final(wasn't so good). Sooooo not only was it depressing to tell every single one of my family & friends i failed and graduation is no longer, BUT i ALSO had to wait a whole freaking year before I could retake Med-Surg 2 over. I didn't give up, and waited that whole year and finally made it the second time around but decided to for-go the graduation. It was stupid because we had graduation even though we still had to finish the summer program(OB and peds). I just decided to not go because WHO KNOWs i figured i may just fail again. Turns out I didn't, and finished the program July 2010. BUT i have to say that was an extremely LONG HAUL for me. And yet I still didn't give up nursing.

Then the nclex-pn rolls around. I take it the first time in november. failed it. Then studied my BUTT off the second time (using lacharity, exam cram, made flashcards, PRAYED, and everything). Studied for 2 or so months. I honestly don't know what more I could fit into my brain. I felt confident in answers on the nclex, I just thought I had it! I just took it today. I did the trick, and BOOM. failed again.

Honestly, this is absolutely ridiculous. I have wasted literally 5 years of my life 18 -now- 23 years old, and still don't know what the hell to do with my life! I wasted 5 years on my life for a LPN Diploma(not even a degree) in which i'd probably be only getting 11 dollars an hour anyway. It's soooo dumb. It just kills me because if I would have changed this major a couple years ago, I would have a 4 year degree right now, like all my friends. And I wouldn't have gone through ALL THIS HELL. I worked my butt off these past 5 years trying to make it, failed, then passed, failed then passed, then failed again. . . Not to mention dealing with the crulest/rudest instructors on earth. Think there's alot of them out there especially from reading postings on allnurses.com. Look at all the people on this site wasting away their YEARS trying to make it through either 1. nursing school, or 2. the nclex. Either people on this site are Extremely Happy or Extremely Desperate because they failed, again. You know, it's no wonder there's a dang nursing shortage. Nursing has officially ****** me off. It's final. I lost all my confidence and self esteem due to this freaking career. I'd rather do something that's less stressful and makes me happy, then keep getting FAILURES after FAILURES in this nursing life. Soooooooo long nursing! A BIG weight has just be lifted off my shoulders. For all you out there, good luck to you. But i'm starting new in my life, and instead of being all sad about it like i was 2 hours ago when I found out I failed, i'm actually quite excited to start my new life in a different but RIGHT path this time. :gtch: I think i'm calling this site quits.

Hi believeallispossible,

I can hear the disappointment and discouragement you are feeling as I read your post. You have obviously poured much effort and dedication into achieving your nursing goal and are so very close to making it happen. It's very understandable that 2 hours after hearing you did not pass the NCLEX-PN for the 2nd time you would just want to put it all behind you. I think taking a couple weeks off to just get away from it is actually a great idea. Later, as time goes on, I think you will find yourself continually drawn back to wanting to finish what you started. Clearly that is what you have always done, which is why you are a successful nursing school graduate. And as we all can attest to, that is something to be very proud of because getting through nursing school is no easy task.

I think you know in your heart that you will be back and that you are going to finish this. You 'll do it because you have to. You have already shown that you have the character of someone who simply does not give up. Down the road, you will have much personal growth from this experience which you may use to help and encourage others someday.

One good thing is that there is a new test plan now, which began on April 1st. Yes, they have raised the passing standard, but I have also read that they have revised the questions for clarity which means there will be less ambiguity over what the question is asking. That has to be an improvement! Also, I know you mentioned Lacharity and Exam Cram, but have you tried Kaplan and Saunders? I think the Kaplan strategies alone (which can be found in their book) are well-worth reading and applying. I know for me that it is helping me to approach the practice questions in a new way, more methodically, and helping me to eliminate wrong choices. It might help you, too.

Just want you to know I'm praying for you right after I finish writing this. God bless you, friend and future nurse. :pntlft:

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It's been awhile....

Thank you all dearly for your replys. As you all know from my post, I was so devastated and depressed after I found out I failed the 2nd time. I was going to throw this all away. I didn't think I could live life! But life goes on. I guess it's all part of the grieving stage, and I finally recouped and I'm getting myself back up and trying again. After thinking about it, you guys are right, and like '4Karrie2' said, I think I know in my heart that I will be back and that I am going to finish this. I will do it because I simply have to. This one little test isn't going to get in the way of me living life. I am going to get through it. Sooo, here we go again! :o Positive Positive Positive gotta stay P-o-s-i-t-i-v-e. If I can just get through this 1 test, my life would change. Amazing how 1 test can have such an impact on your life...

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Specializes in med/surg & home health.

. . . and you are a great reminder to me and all of us, to keep focused and not let anything get us down or in our way of achieving our goals. It's all good—even the bumpy road that builds character and strengthens our wings, enabling us to live a great full life. Hats off to you!

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Welcome back! :hug:

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Dear believeallispossible. Please analyse where it went wrong. just wanna share my new post today. Thanks.:redbeathe

https://allnurses.com/nclex-discussion-forum/experiences-554877.html

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Dont give up! You can do this...You will pass the Nclex!!!

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I totally understand where you are coming from...I just found out on 4/18/11 that I did not pass again...I cried for two days but I am not going to give up.I am 40yrs old and I feel Like I wasted my time as well but I am sooo determined to pass. I work as a medical assistant and the worst part is four of my co-workers who went through the program with me passed and are working as a LVN, now that is tough!!! My advice to is do not give up...you are so young and have your whole life ahead of you.

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I studied the exam cram did all the questions on the CD which is like around 1200 questions I believe. I made notecards on it. I studied LaCharity answered all 18 chapters. Studied lab values and infection control. Meds. I thought that was good enough but I guess not.

One thing that I did wrong---> I didn't realize that there were about 400 or so questions in the exam cram book that I forgot to answer! I figured it was the same questions that were on the CD, but nooooooo they were different. And I just realized that the night before the exam...around 11pm at night! So, there i was cramming trying to answer those 400 questions that night because I was freaking out since I forgot to answer them. Probably was up til 1 or 2am. I know, Not goooood. But I have really bad test anxiety and I thought I needed to finish those questions. My test the next morning was at 10:30am. I was in there for close to 5 hours...answered all 205 questions. Got my results back and I was near passing on all of the 8 categories. The first time I took the nclex, my results were near passing except for pharm was below. I duno, I was a little frusterated after I found out my results for the second time because I felt like I didn't really improve much. I thought that some of it would be above passing. Ugh. Anyways, I'm trying to get back on track today--speaking of which i'm at the library right at this moment. I guess my first step is going over what I did last time because I took a couple weeks off after I found out I failed...probably wasn't a good thing but I was so depressed I thought, why go on? but here I am. It shouldn't take me that long to relearn---i'm just going over the notecards that I made. Then I guess my next step is to answer those questions in the Exam Cram book that I forgot to answer and read the rationale carefully and write notes about it. Thennnnn, I guess I'm not sure if I should use Saunders? Fryes 3000? Nclex 3500 online? Kaplan? ATI? I don't know! What do you all recommend? Even though I failed, I feel like exam cram helped me out because there were questions that I knew on the nclex that I studied over. Certain dz's were on there that I knew because of exam cram. That's why I was so extremely sad, mad, angry, upset, depressed, devastated (ALL sorts of emotions)...because I thought I did well! I mean of course there were questions that I had no clue on, and there were questions where it was either one or the other...but there were questions that I was certain on too! Anyways, thanks for all the support!! No one else really truely understands what we all are going through except the people that are actually in our situations.

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I believe what you are probably doing wrong is maybe you are over studying. On the day of my first test I think I over studied and went to bed very late.The second time around I really did not get any sleep cuz my 21yr old son called me at 3:30am to tell me he was in a car accident...:( My test was at 1pm and there was no way to cancel my test. I was so exhausted and nervous with the whole situation that I was soooo tired during my test. What I am planning to do this time around is take a nclex review class and review again the cram book again...ugh!!! I am sooooo sick of this test that all I want is to pass :confused: I do not understand how other people that I know did not really study the exam and passed with no problem!!! I must be either really stupid or just studying the wrong info...:confused: I guess we are all feeling the same and the only thing we can do is keep trying...:nurse:

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Hi...sorry you are so frustrated..hope I can offer a few words...

NCLEX is more about test taking skills - chances are you have all of the knoweldge you need...if you want to be a nurse, get some help with test taking and take it again. You have invested alot of time and energy in to this...I wouldn't give up just yet

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Specializes in Critical Care, Postpartum.

OP, do you really believe in the username you have chosen? I saw your mom's post as well and it seems like your biggest issue is test taking. You probably know the material very well but seem to do poorly on the exams. Maybe test anxiety?

You are still young, but I know that doesn't matter when you look at your friends. Have you decided which career path you are taking?

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My advise to you is DON'T GIVE UP!!!!! I've seen the stupidest nurses pass the NCLEX on the first try, and their everyday battle is which insulin to draw up first lantus (ummmmm okkkkkk?????) or regular :nuke: and they can't seem to understand why we look at them with a horrid look when they ask us this question day in and day out.

The NCLEX isn't an easy test to pass. It's all theory and it's set up to fail us. My best friend is a horrible test taker but she knows how to critical think on the floor. She passed the NCLEX on the second try and she wasn't going to give up. She used Lippincotts & Davis as her study tooks after failing it the first time. She stopped at 85 and then passed.

Once again, I'm going to tell you DON'T GIVE UP. You can nip this in the butt. Rest your mind for a couple of weeks and the start studying again. Good Luck

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